Several lawmakers returned to the Kansas Statehouse on Monday for their wrap-up session. The full legislature returned Wednesday. 

Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday, the first day of the veto session, used her veto powers on two bills regarding education. One of those included the “Parent’s Bill of Rights,” or HB 2236. The bill would’ve allowed parents to pull students from courses or lessons that violate their personal beliefs. 

“Parents and teachers across Kansas want the same thing – for our kids to get the best education possible,” Kelly said. “This bill distracts from that goal, inserting partisan politics into the classroom at the expense of our students, parents, and teachers. The best thing we can do for our students is work together to continue fully funding public education and ensure they have the resources and support to succeed. We can’t do that if we are forced to spend millions of dollars on expensive lawsuits.” 

The House voted on Thursday 78-45 to sustain the governor’s veto. 

Another bill Kelly vetoed was Senate Bill 169, which would overhaul the state’s tax structure to establish a flat tax rate, costing the state $1.3 billion over the next three years and putting public education funding at risk.  

“Our public schools were one of the biggest victims in the legislature’s last tax experiment and are one of the many services that would take a hit should this bill become law,” she said. “In my first term, I made a commitment to getting our state back on track. I’m proud of how far we have come, but we can’t risk turning back now. I’m calling on legislators to put this one-time surplus back in the hands of taxpayers - without risking our ability to continue fully funding schools and investing in roads, bridges and essential services.” 

As far as bills going into law, the governor signed HB 2292, which creates an apprenticeship program for aspiring educators or health care workers. 

“To keep our economy strong, we must invest in our next generation of workers,” Kelly said. “I was proud to spearhead the development of additional apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities through the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. This bill takes that effort one step further by rewarding employers across the state for doing the right thing and supporting those entering the workforce.” 

Senate Sub for HB 2138 covers three topics: requiring school districts to provide separate accommodations for students of each biological sex on overnight school district-sponsored trips, requiring contracts for exclusive broadcasts of state high school activities association activities to permit certain local broadcasts and providing for administrative review of resolutions to permanently close a school building of a school district.  

This was vetoed by Gov. Kelly and returned to the House, where they voted Wednesday to override the veto 85-39. The Senate took the bill up Thursday and also voted to override the veto 30-9. The bill is now law. 

Neither House Appropriations or Senate Ways and Means Committees approved the Governor's Budget Amendment to increase special education funding. 

On Wednesday, the Senate Education and K-12 Education Budget Committees met to discuss HB 2089 and SB 113. HB 2089 now contains the contents of former House Sub for 83. The committees also moved special education funding into SB 113 (K-12 budget bill).